DNC Gets More From Accountants Than From Lobbyists

Here’s further evidence that the political significance of the Democratic National Committee’s refusal of lobbyists’ contributions is greater than the new policy’s financial significance: In 2004, federally registered lobbyists—whether they work at lobbying firms or in-house for corporations, trade groups or unions—contributed only about $581,000 to the DNC, or not quite two-tenths of 1 percent of the committee’s overall fundraising in ’04. That’s less than the party collected from accountants—and 27 other industries—in 2004.

And before Barack Obama ordered his party to fall in line with his presidential campaign’s anti-lobbyist (and PAC) policy, the DNC had collected less than $100,000 from K Street types for the 2008 election—again, less than professional number-crunchers but also the tourism industry, livestock producers and many others. (Thanks to our Research staff for poring over individual donation records to match lobbyists of all stripes to their contributions.) Political action committees, as we’ve previously reported, have accounted for just 3 percent of the committee’s fundraising for ’08.

One loophole we foresee in the DNC’s policy: In 2004, Democratic candidates’ campaign committees gave the DNC more money than any other industry or type of contributor, other than lawyers and law firms—nearly $24 million. Unless Democratic congressional candidates also fall in line with the policy of Obama and the national party, money from lobbyists and PACs will almost certainly still seep into the party’s coffers.

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